LEGISLATIVE AGENDA 2019 The Springfield Area Chamber of Commerce, located in Missouri’s third largest city, represents over 1,500 business and professional organizations that employ a combined total of more than 110,000 people living in southwest Missouri.

The vision of the Springfield Area Chamber of Commerce is to foster a culture and climate of opportunity through robust economic growth and dynamic job creation.

The public policy initiative of the Springfield Area Chamber of Commerce is member-oriented and volunteer-driven. Chamber staff and volunteers advocate with elected officials in Jefferson City on behalf of the Springfield metropolitan business community for issues that positively impact the state’s business climate.

14 BUSINESS CLIMATE

WORKPLACE ISSUES

Missouri’s business climate should foster job creation • Legislation that would increase workers’ compensation and growth. Balancing and strengthening the state’s costs by requiring employers to cover the cost of care employment laws will protect both employers and provided by employee-selected healthcare providers. employees through fairness and transparency. • An increase of the minimum wage. The Chamber supports: • Legislation that will shore up the unemployment JUDICIAL SYSTEM & TORT REFORM insurance trust fund including linking unemployment benefits to the rate of unemployment. An improved legal climate in Missouri is critical to business attraction for the state. • Right to work legislation because of the impact it would have on Missouri’s future economic prosperity. The Chamber supports: • Efforts to clarify and reform Missouri’s venue laws. • Legislation that allows employers to access prior workers’ compensation claims for prospective • Strengthening requirements for making claims under employees to screen for a history of fraudulent claims. the Missouri Merchandising Practices Act (MMPA).

• Legislation that would end joint and several liability • The establishment of an Asbestos Transparency Act and hold a defendant liable for only the percent of in Missouri. harm the defendant has caused. • Missouri’s non-partisan court plan and encourages • Continued review of Missouri’s existing prevailing continued analysis of the plan to identify wage laws to further improve certainty and opportunities for improvement, including additional predictability. citizen participation.

The Chamber opposes: • Adequate funding for Greene County Judicial Courts • Legislation that would mandate limitations on an and facilities to ensure safe and efficient access to employer’s ability to fully screen a job applicant at justice, including an increase in the state’s allocation any time during the hiring process. to jail inmate per diem funding and increased funding for the public defender system. 1 ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT

ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT

A strong pro-business climate is critical in competing for The Chamber opposes: jobs and economic growth. • Legislation that would allow businesses to discriminate based on sexual orientation and gender The Chamber supports: identity because of the anticipated negative • Proven tax credit programs that are competitive, economic consequences for the State of Missouri. performance-based, provide a positive return on the state’s investment and are not subject to the ENTREPRENEURIAL SUPPORT appropriations process. The Chamber supports initiatives that would positively • Programs that leverage private investment and enhance the small business and entrepreneurial climate stimulate employment. in the state to encourage growth and development in this critical sector. • Policies that would provide for regional equity for key tax credit programs. The Chamber supports: • Programs that incentivize capital investment, small • The restoration and funding of Missouri’s research business assistance and access to early stage capital and development tax credit. and support.

• Continued full funding of the Missouri Partnership. • The development of an angel investor tax credit to increase entrepreneurial access to risk capital. • The establishment of a deal closing fund to help the state secure economic development projects. • Strategic investments to develop Missouri’s research base to encourage entrepreneurship, including • Policies that strengthen domestic agriculture, restoration of funding for the Missouri Technology promote exports and ensure a safe and stable Corporation. food supply.

2 EDUCATION & WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT

WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT

Developing and training the state’s future workforce • Funding for higher education programs like the is the key to our economic growth. Access to qualified MoExcels Workforce Development Grant Program workers is a top priority for Missouri businesses, and that are designed to meet specific workforce needs other states are significantly outperforming Missouri in in southwest Missouri. investment, flexibility and innovation related to state workforce efforts. • The use of Industry Recognized Credentials to better train individuals and to increase workforce The Chamber supports: productivity. • A comprehensive, robust approach to workforce development like Missouri One Start, to incentivize EDUCATION industry to grow or expand in Missouri and meet employers’ current and future needs. Continued investment in all levels of public education will ensure that a properly trained workforce will • Increased appropriations for Skilled Workforce be available to meet the needs and expectations of Missouri, formerly known as Missouri Works Missouri employers. customized training program, to meet existing demand for new and expanding businesses. EARLY CHILDHOOD, ELEMENTARY AND SECONDARY EDUCATION • Improving effectiveness of workforce training dollars through increased flexibility of state training The Chamber supports: programs and better alignment among state • Continued full funding of the current foundation agencies. formula for K - 12 public education to ensure Missouri’s educational system is competitive • Supplemental state funding to match federal and capable of effectively preparing tomorrow’s workforce training dollars to remain competitive workforce. and meet expanding employment needs. 3 • A set of rigorous standards for the fundamental The Chamber opposes: coursework that students encounter at each grade • Efforts to establish programs that would divert state level, while preserving local control of curriculum dollars from Springfield Public Schools or other high and instructional choices by educators to achieve performing districts. such standards. HIGHER EDUCATION • The protection of the authority of locally elected school boards to make decisions that impact students Investment in higher education is key in developing and families within their districts. Missouri’s workforce. The state’s current level of funding for higher education puts Missouri at a disadvantage to • The reduction or elimination of mandates for the peer states that invest at significantly higher levels. state’s public school systems that aren’t properly funded. The Chamber supports: • A performance and equity funding increase for public • Innovative approaches to encourage more students colleges and universities that would begin to address to move into high-demand fields such as IT, including the per student funding disparities between support for programs such as GO CAPS, the institutions around the state. availability of a computer science teacher certification and related funding for teacher professional learning • Continued funding for needs and merit-based at the K-12 level. scholarship programs such as Access Missouri and Bright Flight. • Increased funding for the Parents as Teachers program. • Support for Missouri’s A+ program to maximize access among high school students, as well as expansion • Only those charter schools that are authorized by of the program to increase degree and certification local boards of education and subject to the same attainment among adults. accountability standards as other Missouri public schools. • A $10 million appropriation to fund the initial development of the Center for Advanced • Efforts to incentivize school districts to partner Manufacturing and Technology. with businesses to improve employability and life skills beyond standardized test scores of academic • Appropriations of matching funds for capital projects standards. in the Springfield area that have been approved by the commissioner for higher education for • Increased appropriations for K-12 transportation distribution from the Higher Education Capital Fund. to meet the funding level defined in state statute.

4 FISCAL RESPONSIBILITY GOVERNANCE & TAXATION

FISCAL RESPONSIBILITY & GOVERNANCE TAXATION

The Springfield Area Chamber of Commerce encourages The current tax rate is not a detriment to business responsible stewardship of state finances and a attraction efforts for the state. State tax reform should balanced state budget without placing undue tax be reasoned, data-driven, consider the long-term impact burdens on the business community or reducing the on the economy and support crucial state investments. effectiveness of essential state programs. The Chamber supports: The Chamber supports: • Legislation to create a mechanism to collect • Legislation that would improve the existing initiative existing sales tax for online transactions to address petition system, ensuring a fair and transparent the changing economy. process. • Limits on the expansion of local permitting and • The development of an effective fiscal note process regulatory requirements that add expense to that accurately measures the total fiscal impact of business in excess of the cost to provide necessary proposed legislation, including an accounting of government services. the anticipated revenue gains from proposed tax credit programs. • Modifying Missouri’s timely sales tax filing discount for retailers and directing the savings to fund key • Lessening term limit restrictions for members of priorities. the and House of Representatives. The Chamber opposes: The Chamber opposes: • The retroactive application of a new interpretation • Further broad-based tax cut measures until current in taxation of businesses. reforms have been fully implemented and the state budget has stabilized.

5 QUALITY OF LIFE

TOURISM, ARTS & CULTURE

The Chamber supports the role of tourism, the arts, • Allocation of the non-resident professional athletes libraries, and cultural organizations as contributing to and entertainers income tax to the Missouri Cultural the economic health and quality of life in the region. Trust and the Missouri State Library Networking Fund as defined by state statute. The Chamber supports: • Enabling legislation that would allow Springfield • Growing the travel and tourism industry and state voters to increase the City’s authority to collect sales tax revenue by fully funding the Division of hotel-motel or convention taxes. Tourism according to the established funding formula.

6 TRANSPORTATION, INFRASTRUCTURE & REGULATION

TRANSPORTATION & INFRASTRUCTURE

Given the state’s geographic advantage as a and protects the interests of business, without shifting transportation hub, safe and efficient transportation the cost of the uninsured. infrastructure is a crucial element in supporting our continued growth and development. The Chamber supports: • Consumer-driven solutions that will help to control The Chamber supports: costs through the use of incentives and wellness • Alternative sources of funding for transportation and preventive programs. infrastructure to ensure increased investment in the statewide system; such funding should not negatively • A transformation of the Medicaid program to include impact the state’s limited general revenue budget. reasonable reforms and equitable treatment between managed care insurance companies and providers. • Raising motor fuel tax within the confines of the Hancock Amendment. • Establishing a comprehensive statewide statutory prescription drug monitoring program. • Evaluating the viability of raising auto license and registration fees in order to fund transportation. ENERGY & ENVIRONMENT

• Partnerships between MoDOT, the region’s local The region’s natural resources and unique geologic governments, and the private sector, including setting are incredible assets. It is critical to our state’s the cost share program. vitality to protect those assets without placing undue burden on the business community. • Increased funding for multimodal transportation to improve port, rail, aviation and a dedicated The Chamber supports: source of state transit funding for Missouri’s public • Reasonable environmental, water and energy transit providers. policies that provide a balance between protecting the sustainability of natural resources while • The expansion of rural broadband throughout encouraging economic growth and promoting the state. quality of life.

The Chamber opposes: • Regulatory reform that reduces administrative • The transfer of state-owned roadways to local requirements and the economic burden of regulatory ownership and maintenance. compliance and considers the sometimes conflicting compliance requirements between state and federal HEALTHCARE REFORM regulatory bodies.

The Chamber supports policies that make the delivery The Chamber opposes: of health care services less costly and more efficient, • Unfunded and underfunded legislative mandates. addresses the needs of patients, providers and payers

7 MISSOURI GOVERNOR MISSOURI STATE GOVERNMENT HOME PAGE

Mike Parson www.mo.gov Missouri State Capitol 201 W. Capitol Ave., Room 216 Jefferson City, MO 65101 573-751-3222

STATE SENATORS

Missouri State Capitol Sandy Crawford Mike Cunningham 201 W. Capitol Avenue District 28 District 33 Jefferson City, MO 65101 Room 426 Room 320 573-751-2000 573-751-8793 573-751-1882 www.senate.mo.gov [email protected] [email protected]

Dave Schatz David Sater President Pro Tem District 29 District 26 Room 416 Room 326 573-751-1480 573-751-3678 [email protected] [email protected] Lincoln Hough Eric Burlison District 30 District 20 Room 419 Room 219 573-751-2583 573-751-1503 [email protected] [email protected]

STATE REPRESENTATIVES

Missouri State Capitol John Black 201 W. Capitol Avenue District 132 District 137 Jefferson City, MO 65101 Room 204 Room 115-A 573-751-2000 573-751-3795 573-751-3819 www.house.mo.gov [email protected] [email protected]

Elijah Haahr Curtis Trent Speaker of the House District 133 District 139 District 134 Room 201-F Room 306-A Room 308 573-751-0136 573-751-3833 573-751-2210 [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] Steve Helms Lynn Morris Jeff Messenger District 135 District 140 District 130 Room 206-C Room 205 Room 313-2 573-751-9809 573-751-2565 573-751-2381 [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] Sonya Anderson District 136 District 131 Room 201-E Room 316 573-751-0232 573-751-2948 [email protected] [email protected]

8 CHAMBER PUBLIC AFFAIRS TEAM

Sandy Howard Emily Denniston Senior Vice President, Vice President, Public Affairs Public Affairs

Peyton Andrews Lauren Mustoe Public Affairs Project Manager Public Affairs Coordinator For more information, please contact:

Sandy Howard, Senior Vice President - Public Affairs Springfield Area Chamber of Commerce 202 S. John Q. Hammons Parkway I Springfield, MO 65806 Phone: (417) 862-5567 [email protected] www.springfieldchamber.com